Rasmalai cake is a fun fusion dessert to celebrate festivities or any special occasion. It combines flavors of the Indian dessert Rasmalai in the form of cake making it totally irresistible! Egg-free, easy to make, and delicious!

Rasmalai cake is our new favorite sweet to celebrate special occasions. From festivals to birthdays, anniversary and now on popular demand it was part of new year's celebration too!
I had made Rasmalai for Diwali and had some leftover ras (milk) or syrup.
The kids wanted a cake so I thought let's give rasmalai cake a try as I have been hearing so much about it.
I wasn't in the mood for anything fancy so just made a simple whipped cream frosting flavored it with ras and garnished with some nuts and rose petals. Voilà! It was an instant hit!!
This rasmalai cake is
- eggless
- soft and moist
- tastes just like traditional rasmalai
- easy to make
- can be made ahead of time
- perfect for festivals and celebrations.
Rasmalai is a popular Indian dessert made from soft melt in mouth flattened paneer balls soaked in a thickened sweetened milk flavored with cardamom, saffron, and garnished with nuts.
Rasmalai cake recipe is a fusion version of this popular dessert.
It is an eggless sponge cake soaked with the rasmalai milk (ras or syrup) topped with rasmalai flavored whipped cream and garnished with nuts and rose petals.
Basically, this cake is the best of both worlds - cake and rasmalai together, and it's always a hit!!
This rasmalai flavor cake is made of three components
Ras - Also referred to as Rasmalai milk or syrup. It is the thickened saffron and cardamom flavored milk that is used to flavor the cake and also the whipped frosting. Depending on the quality of your saffron, ras can be pale to dark yellow color.
I've used evaporated milk and Instant pot to make rasmalai milk as it's quick and easy. You can also make this in a pot on the stovetop and replace evaporated milk with whole milk but the consistency will be slightly thinner.
The sponge cake - This is a light, airy, soft, eggless, and butter-free sponge cake. To keep it egg-free I've used yogurt and flavored it with cardamom powder and Rasmalai milk which imparts it a light yellow color.
Whipped frosting - To keep up with the light and airy theme, I prefer using whipped cream frosting to bring this cake together. It's flavored with vanilla extract and rasmalai milk which also gives it a tinge of yellow color.
So now let's see how to make this eggless rasmalai cake.
Recipe Ingredients
Rasmalai milk - evaporated milk, whole milk cardamom powder, pinch saffron, sugar, and condensed milk.
Sponge Rasmalai cake - all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, yogurt, flavorless oil (canola or vegetable oil), and rasmalai milk.
Whipped cream frosting - heavy whipping cream,vanilla extract, rasmalai milk, and powdered sugar (confectioners sugar)
For garnishing - nuts (sliced almonds and pistachios) and dry rose petals. Optional - saffron threads and edible gold leaf
Step by Step Method
Make rasmalai milk
1 - While the instant pot is switched off, add all the ingredients water, evaporated milk, whole milk, cardamom powder, a pinch of saffron, sugar, and condensed milk in this order to the stainless steel insert of the Instant Pot.
Mix well until combined. Close the lid with vent to sealing and cook on manual high for 1 minute followed by natural release. Quick-release is not recommended as the milk will splatter all around.
Step 2 - Open the lid and mix well. Leave the lid open to cool. The milk layer (malai) will form as the milk cools, mix it in for that delicious thick milk. Rasmalai milk (ras) is ready.
You can make this ahead of time and keep refrigerated for 3-4 days. It will thicken slightly as it cools.
Make the rasmalai cake
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8 inch round baking pan or 8X8 square pan with parchment. Spray oil (lightly) on the pan and on the parchment paper. Keep aside.
Step 3 - In a large mixing bowl (or stand mixer bowl) add all the wet ingredients like yogurt, rasmalai milk, oil, and sugar.
Step 4 - Whisk until sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
5 - Sift the dry ingredients, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cardamom powder into the wet mixture.
6 - Gently fold the dry mixture into the wet until everything is well combined and smooth (do not over-mix).
7 - Pour the batter into the lined baking pan.
8 - Bake at 350°F for 20-25 mins or until a toothpick inserted at the center of the cake comes out clean.
9 - Remove from oven and let it stand in the pan for 5-10 mins after which transfer it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Transfer the cake back to the baking pan. Using a toothpick or skewers, poke holes all over the cake.
11 - Pour half a cup of the rasmalai milk over the cake. Spread with a brush or spoon to make sure it spreads evenly all over the cake.
12 - Cover the cake with cling wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or overnight so the cake can soak up all the milk.
Make the frosting
I use my kitchen aid stand mixer with a wire hook attachment to make the frosting. You can also use a hand mixer.
Keep the wire hook attachment and the stand mixer bowl in freezer for 15 minutes just before you make the frosting and chill the whipped cream in the refrigerator.
13 and 14 - After 15 mins, remove the bowl and whisk from the freezer. Add cream and rasmalai milk to the chilled bowl.
14 - Using a spatula, mix well to combine.
15 - Starting low slowly increase the stand mixer speed to medium-high (6-8). Beat for about 2-4 mins or until you see the cream thickening.
At this point add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract (begin with ½ cup and increase as needed). I added about ¾ cup.
16 - Start at low speed again to prevent the powdered sugar from flying all over your kitchen. Slowly increase the speed to medium-high (6-8).
Beat for another 2-3 minutes or until you see the cream has thickened and is keeping its shape (or forming stiff peaks).
Assembling the cake
I have kept it simple and just applied the frosting on top. I did not divide the cake into layers but you can slice it in half and frost it like this mango cake too. Either way its delicious!
17 - Remove the chilled soaked cake and place it on the cake stand or the serving plate, add a tablespoon of the frosting at the center of the cake stand. This will act as glue to hold the cake in place
18 - Add a generous amount of frosting to the cake and using a spatula spread it out evenly on the top part only as much as possible. It doesn't need to be perfect.
19 - Sprinkle some dry fruits like sliced almonds and chopped pistachios over the frosting.
20 - Finally finish it with some dry rose petals and light drizzle of rasmalai milk.
Optional - You can also add some saffron threads and edible gold leaf for a more festive look.
Soft, moist and delicious Rasmalai cake is ready!
Serving suggestions
This cake can be served just as is topped with whipped frosting but since it's a rasmalai cake, I like to add a bit of the rasmalai milk on the serving plate and place the cake piece on it.
Variations
Rasmalai Tres Leches - A tres leches cake is a sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream. So to make a Rasmalai Tres Leches just replace the whole milk while making ras with heavy cream, the rest of the steps and recipe remains the same. Easy right!
Rasmalai cupcakes - You can also bake this cake batter into 12 cupcakes and bake for 15-18 minutes or till a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool, poke, add saffron milk, chill and then frost and decorate.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- To make rasmalai milk on the stovetop, add all the ingredients to a heavy-bottomed pot and bring it to a boil, stir intermittently. Lower the heat and simmer for 5-10 mins. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool.
- Do not overmix the batter once you add the dry ingredients. That will result in a denser and hard cake.
- Cake on its own is less sweet since when assembled in combination with the whipped cream and ras it tastes just right. You can increase the sugar to ½ cup for a cake if you prefer it sweeter.
- Hacks or shortcuts - use a store-bought cake mix and bake as per package instructions or use cool whip (ready-made whipped cream) and flavor it with rasmalai milk.
- The frosting quantity is sufficient to frost a two-layer cake. There will be extra frosting if you frost just a single layer. Extra frosting can be served with cake. The same is true for Ras too.
FAQ's
The unfrosted cake can be stored at room temperature for 2 days and refrigerated for a week. Store frosted cake covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Unfrosted cake can be frozen. Allow to cool completely, cover in a cling wrap and seal airtight before storing in freezer. When ready to use, thaw at room temperature and then frost.
Hope you enjoy this Eggless Rasmalai Cake!! If you give this recipe a try, please rate by clicking stars ⭐️ in the recipe card. Thank you ❤️ ! You can also follow me on Facebook | Instagram to see what’s cooking in my kitchen!!
Recipe Card
Rasmalai Cake (Eggless)
Equipment
Ingredients
For Rasmalai milk
- 2 tablespoon water
- 12 oz can evaporated milk or replace with whole milk
- ½ cup whole milk
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder
- pinch saffron
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon condensed milk or replace with sugar
For the sponge cake
- 1¼ cup All purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder
- ¼ cup sugar since we have adde ¼ cup sugar in rasmalai milk
- ½ cup yogurt
- 1 cup rasmalai milk recipe included
- ½ cup oil canola or vegetable oil
For soaking/brushing the cake after baking
- ½ cup rasmalai milk
For the whipped cream frosting
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ to 1 cup powdered sugar depending on the sweetness you like, I use ¾ cup
- ¼ cup rasmalai milk recipe included
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
For garnishing
- 6-7 almonds sliced
- 6-7 pistachios sliced
- Few strands saffron optional
- 1-2 tablespoon rasmalai milk recipe included
- dry rose petals as needed
Instructions
To make rasmalai milk
- Add all the ingredients water, evaporated milk, whole milk, cardamom powder, a pinch of saffron, sugar, and condensed milk in this order to the stainless steel insert of the Instant Pot. Mix well until combined.
- Close the lid with vent to sealing and cook on manual high for 1 minute followed by natural release. Don't do the quick release as the milk will splatter all around.
- Once the pin drops, open the lid and mix well.
- Leave the lid open to cool. The milk layer (malai) will form as the milk cools, mix it in for that delicious thick milk. Rasmalai milk (ras) is ready. You can make this ahead of time and keep refrigerated for 3-4 days. It will thicken slightly as it cools.
To make rasmalai cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8 inch round baking pan with parchment. Spray oil (lightly) on the pan and on the parchment paper. Keep aside.
- In a large mixing bowl (or stand mixer bowl) add all the wet ingredients like yogurt, rasmalai milk, oil, and sugar and whisk until sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
- Sift the dry ingredients, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cardamom powder into the wet mixture.
- Gently fold the dry mixture into the wet until everything is well combined and smooth (do not over-mix).
- Pour the batter into the lined baking pan. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 mins or until a toothpick inserted at the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and let it stand in the pan for 5-10 mins after which transfer it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Transfer the cooled cake back to the baking pan. Using a toothpick or skewer, poke holes all over the cake.
- Pour half cup of the rasmalai milk over the cake. Spread with a brush or spoon to make sure it spreads evenly all over the cake.
- Cover the cake with cling wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or overnight so the cake can soak up all the milk.
To make the frosting
- Keep the wire hook attachment and the stand mixer bowl in the freezer for 15 minutes just before you make the frosting and chill the whipped cream in the refrigerator.
- After 15 mins, remove the bowl and whisk from the freezer. Add cream, and rasmalai milk to the chilled bowl. Mix well to combine.
- Starting low, slowly increases the stand mixer speed to medium-high (6-8). Beat for about 2-4 mins or until you see the cream thickening.
- At this point add the vanilla extract and powdered sugar (begin with ½ cup and increase as needed). I added about ¾ cup.
- Start at low speed again to prevent the powdered sugar from flying all over your kitchen. Slowly increase the speed to medium-high (6-8).
- Beat for another 2-3 minutes or until you see the cream has thickened and is keeping its shape (or forming stiff peaks).
To assemble the cake
- Remove the chilled soaked cake and place it on the cake stand or the serving plate, add a tablespoon of the frosting at the center of the cake stand. This will act as glue to hold the cake in place
- Add a generous amount of frosting to the cake and using a spatula spread it out evenly on the top part only as much as possible. It doesn't need to be perfect.
- Sprinkle some dry fruits like sliced almonds and chopped pistachios evenly over the frosting.
- Finally, finish it with some dry rose petals and light drizzle of rasmalai milk.
- Optional - You can also add some saffron threads and edible gold leaf for a more festive look.
- Soft, moist, and delicious Rasmalai cake is ready! Slice and serve or keep refrigerated.
Notes
- To make rasmalai milk on the stovetop, add all the ingredients to a heavy-bottomed pot and bring it to a boil, stir intermittently. Lower the heat and simmer for 5-10 mins. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool.
- Do not overmix the batter once you add the dry ingredients. That will result in a dense and hard cake.
- Cake on its own is less sweet since when assembled in combination with the whipped cream and ras it tastes just right. You can increase the sugar to ½ cup for a cake if you prefer it sweeter.
- The unfrosted cake can be stored at room temperature for 2 days and refrigerated for a week. Store frosted cake covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Hacks or shortcuts - use cool whip (ready-made whipped cream) and flavor it with rasmalai milk to make the whipped cream frosting.
- The frosting quantity is sufficient to frost a two-layer cake. There will be extra frosting if you frost just a single layer. Extra frosting can be served with cake. The same is true for Ras too.
Yummy cake ! Easy recipe . A keeper for sure
Thank you Anjana 🙂 Glad you liked it!!
Hi the recipe looks very tempting. Can I use the same recipe for making cupcakes or will I need any changes. Thank you
Yes, you can make 12 cupcakes. Bake for 15-18 minutes or till a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Hello Shweta, as you have mentioned that you use store brought cake mix and use it for making rasmalayi cake, do you put eggs in it? How can i make store brought cake mix without eggs?is there a way?
Hi Harpreet, Make the box mix as per directions on the box. If it calls for eggs, then yes go ahead and add those. If you prefer not to add eggs to the cake box mix, then use 1/4 cup of yogurt and other ingredients mentioned on the box, usually water and oil. Hope this helps! Please let me know if you try it!!
Hi! I made this cake yesterday and it was delicious but the sponge itself didn’t rise much and was quite thin. Is that normal?
Hi!! Thank you and glad you liked the cake. Sorry to know it didn't rise much. What size pan did you use? A bigger pan can cause the sponge to flatten. Also, did you check if the baking soda and powder were not expired. That could be another reason.
Hi shweta ... can i try this recipe with eggs ...how many would i need to add eggs and what should i omit instead of eggs
Hi, sorry I haven't tried this cake with eggs.
I made this today. Followed the recipe to the t.
Made it for Eid. Can't wait for everyone to try it. The recipe was so easy to follow.
Thank you!!!
Hi Fatima, Thank you for making the Rasmalai cake for Eid!! Glad you liked it a found it easy to follow. Wishing you a wonderful Eid celebration!
Hi. I would like to try this. Is evaporated milk same as condensed milk without sugar?
Hi Yes!!
If I am using readymade whipped cream (cool whip), how much should I use and how much rasmalai milk should I add ?
Use about 2-3 cups of cool whip and add 2-3 tablespoons of rasmalai milk and gently fold in. Please note, the cool whip is lighter than regular whipped cream so it feels runny especially if you want to decorate it, add powdered sugar (will make it sweeter) or corn starch (non-sweetener) to thicken and stabilize it.
Hi Shweta
I intended getting the ingredients for the cake today, and after going through the ingredients list, I discovered that the evaporated milk is 112oz.
Is this an error? How much evaporated milk is it supposed to be?
Hi Anitha, it was meant to say 1-12oz can of evaporated milk but since it is causing confusion I updated it to just 12oz can in the recipe. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions!! Excited for you to try the cake!
Hi Shweta,
Great description of the recipe. I am sure it tastes great. I am planning to make this on Sunday. Can I make this cake without oven, if yes, then will the dry and wet ingredients for the sponge cake remain same or do i need to change something?
Thanks,
Hi Neha, thank you so much! I excited for you to try it!! I haven't baked this cake without an oven but you can definitely bake it in the air fryer. How are you planning to bake it? For the air fryer, the ingredients remain the same. Just bake at 320°F for 20-30 mins or until done i.e. toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (without batter stuck to it). The time and temperature may vary based on the air fryer model so refer to the manual. Please let me know how it turned out!!
Hi there, thank you for sharing this recipe.
I have a couple of quick questions:
1.) If I wanted to make a 4 layer cake would the frosting be stable enough to stack, fill and coat the cake.
2.) If I use store-bought ras malai milk would the cake be too sweet?
Thank you!
Hi, thank you! My responses are as below
1 - Yes you can fill and frost with whipped cream frosting, it is not as stable and sturdy as the buttercream so keep it refriigerated! Double the quantity for 4 layer cake.
2 - The sponge cake is on the less sweet side so should be Ok. You can taste the cake and reduce the frosting sweetness if needed to balance.
Hope this helps!
Thank you for the reply! This recipe is great. Would I be able to bake it into cupcakes?
It turned out amazing. Every single person who tried it, loved it!
Prefect recipe ♥️
thank you! Glad to know everyone loved it!!
Hi Sheeta,
Thanks so much for this easy recipe. I made this cake with two layers for my friend’s birthday party. It was superb & a hit, the recipe was easy to follow and was just perfect.
Keep giving us these recipes so we can feel great that the results are not disastrous,
Appreciate all you do. Good luck,
Bhavna
Hi Bhavna, makes me so happy to know that you all enjoyed the cake, and thank you for making this recipe part of your friend's birthday celebration!! Truly appreciate your feedback. Thank you so much!!
Tried your recipe. Turned out Excellent .
Thank you
Thank you, Vidya! Glad you liked it!
Hi Shweta,
Thank you so much for this recipe! It came out really good. Everyone loved it!
Hi Priti, Happy to know that you all loved it!! Thanks for trying and sharing!!